Apparatus for the extraction of hydrocarbon materials.



- A, M. son E.- APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF'HYDROCARBON MATERIALS. APPLICATION FILED 0c.29.*19 17.-

1,276 %66. Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

ALEXANDER M. BOYLE, or.

RENO, NEVADA, ASSIGNOR TO CRANE SHADE OIL CORPO' RATION, OF RENO, NEVADA. I

APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACTION or nimaocaanon MATERIALS.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER M. BOYLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reno, in-the county of Washoe and State of -Nevada, haveinvented new and usefullinprovements inApparatus for the Extractlon of Hydrocarbon Materials, of which the/fol lowing is a specification. p i L This inventlon relates to the extraction of hydrocarbon material from shale and similar rocky, ore" like, and earthy' material. The invention pertains to the extractlon of mineral oil and paraflin material from pe-' troleum bearing shale and particularly includes the operation of a mechanicaldistillation process and an ap aratus whereby the ex raction is broughta out.

he invention hasfor its object the obtaining of the hydrocarbon material by the use of a simple and easily operated process and apparatus. The process makes possible the utilization of the gases generated as a source of fuel supply, and also the use of'oil bearing shale for the extraction of the. 011 and parafiim The particular'apparatus provides for the l i treatment of the ground shale and the opera- "'tiVe details make for efliciency. The apparatus'makes possible the injection of dry steam into the center of a moving mass of oil; shale, and provides a specific structure adapted toheat treat the shale. An important feature is the relation-between the intake passage for ground shale and theretort, the arrangement of the present processmaking possible a seal 0f material to close the intake opening and thus increase the temperature and pressure.

'Heretofore shale or oil bearing rock has been treated in retorts with only afair degree of success because of the small percentage of material extracted compared to the cost of'operation. I have found that by crushing the shale to about 6 mesh, that is to a granular condition or finer, a process of extraction in a retort with dry steam and certain temperatures may be operated most advantageously. Simple pulverizatlon. of the shale provides'remarkable results.

The apparatusprovides for a particular continuous mechanical agitation of the groundsha e, and as resul of this a itat n Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2'7, 1918.

Application and ream-1'29, 1917. Serial No. 209,571.

vapors.

ried out in a particular design of retort which provides foran upward central movement of the shale and the lateral downward movement of the same along a heated sur- The particular agitation movement is carface, In conjunction with this particular niovement of the shale the invention provldes for the in ection of steam into the center of the mass of shale during the agi- 'tating movement. The particular construction of the apparatus makes thistreatment possible. One very important feature is'to be found in the fact that the steam is released in-the center of the mass of shale and exercises its. maximum action on the shale by/ necessarily passing through the same to reach theoutlet opening. f

A further feature of the invention is to be found in the fact that the apparatus and process is operated at a pressure greater than atmospheric,pressure.- The construction ofthe retort provides for thesealing of the shale inlet and discharge openings by a seal formed of the material under treatment. The seal of the shale intake passage is formed by a mass of shale located at the downwardly from-the top of the retort.

combination treatment of the shale by a heattreatment of at least 650 F. and at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, while the agitation of the shale is continuing and while'dry steam is being introduced in the center of the mass. w

Heretofore the above combination of steps in a process has not been used and it has not been possible tooperate an agitation process under pressure, nor to inject steam in the manner indicated.

The above and other features of the invention will be described and claimed in the following-specification and claims and described in the accompanying drawing, in which-' Figure 1 is a vertical section showing the arrangement of the vertlcal E5911 Withfits A further feature of the process is the agitating member and the relation bet-ween the feeder screw member and the horizontal retort with respect to the vertical member;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in section of the vertical shaft carrying the agitator and showing the location of the valve rod within the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the lowerretort member showing the arrangement of the conveyer member and the steam injection pipes.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 indicates the vertical walls of a retort within which the shale receives its principal treatment. 2 indicates the space within the walls 1. Surrounding the walls 1 are corresponding vertical walls 3 of an inclosing casing which provides an annular space 3 comprising a steam chamber or jacket to provide heat for the walls 1. The top 4 of the retort covers the central space 2, the top of the space 3, and rests on a suitable supporting wall 5 which may be of concrete or other fireproof material. Centrally located in the space2 is, a screw conveyer member 6 mounted on a vertical shaft 7 which is journa-led in the top 4: with abearing 8 and is provided with a step bearing 9 at its lowermost ends. A packing gland 10 is provided adjacent the upper bearing 8 and a similar packing gland is provided at 11 where the shaft projects through the lower part of the retort.

The supply bin or hopper 12 for the shale which is to be heat treated has its lowermost point located below the top of the retort 2. Extending upwardly from the bottom of the hopper 12 is atubular casing 13 which communicates with the intake passage 14: extending through the top 4. Centrally-located in the casing 13 is a shaft 15 which is journaled in .the casing 13 and which has a screw conveyer 16 extending from its lower end to its upper end adjacent the intake opening 14. This screw conveyer 16 is adapted to elevate the shale which has been previously granulated from the bottom of the hopper 12 to the upper end of the casing 13 where it may fall into the space 2 of the retort. Power for turning the screw conveyer 6 and shaft 7 is provided by a drive shaft 17 operated by any suitable source of power and turning a worm gear 18 positioned to drive a corresponding worm pinion, not shown, on the shaft 7. A bevel gear 19 is mounted on the end of the shaft 17 and adapted to engage a corresponding bevel gear 20 mounted on the upper end of the shaft 15, The gears 19 and 20 are constantly in mesh, so that when the screw conveyer 6 is raising material within the space 2 the conveyer 16 is forcing shale downwardly toward the bottom of the casing 13 and packing the shale at thebottom of the hopper 12, thus providing a very substantial seal to prevent the escape of gases,

The vertical shaft 7 is rovided with a central bore extending the ength of the retort 2 and to its upper end. Openings 7 arekprovided through the shaft 7 to communicate with the bore. Positioned within the bore and projecting from the upper end of the shaft 7 to a point below the lowest of the openings 7 is a tubular shaft 21 which has a central bore and which is adapted to exte id the length of the bore of the shaft 7. A-hand wheel 22 or other suitable operating means is provided for liftin or lowering the shaft 21 within the sha t 7. Steam is led from the annular space 3 to the shaft 21 by means of a flexible connection 23 and pipe 24. When the shaft 21 is raised to uncover the openings 7 steam travels from the annular space 3, through the pipe 24 and hose 23 and downwardly through the center bore of the shaft 21 and is released through the openings 7. The number of the openings 7* which may be used for the discharge of steam will therefore depend on the elevation of the shaft 21 within the shaft 7. l

The heating of the retort is effected by means of steam which is circulating through the annular space 3, which may be injected into the Same from a superheating coil 25. An outlet for the steam is indicated at 3 The coil 25 is positioned within a casing 26 which extends through the concrete supporting wall 5. A gas pipe for conveying suitable heating gases is indicated at 27 and extends below the casing 26 into the fire box 27 surrounding the lower end of the retort. The flames and heating force of the burning gases directed from the pipe 27 are turned toward the casing 26 and the lower inclined walls of the casing 3 to maintain the steam in a superheated condition. A drain outlet for the annular space 3 is indicated at 3 and should be normally closed by a suitable plug. At the top and bottom of the retort the bearings and packing glands are cooled by the water circulating through the passageways 28 provided to prevent overheating of the members at these points. The gases of combustion resulting from the burning of the fuel from the pipe 27 are conducted through the fines 27 formed in the concrete walls 5 and terminating in the stacks 27.

The lower end of the screw conveyer 6 extends substantially across the space between the lower walls 1 of the retort and operates to prevent the material within the retort from running out of the same. The walls 1 are continued downwardly and obliquely by the walls 29 and lead into a horizontal retort with walls 30. A screw conveyer member 31 extends substantially the length of the horizontal retort and is mounted on a horizontal shaft 32 which is provided with bearings 33 and packing glands 34 at the ends of the retort. The outlet end of the retort is oblique and directed downwardly with the oblique walls 35 projecting into a water seal formed by liquid. preferably water, contained within the walls 36 of a suitable receptacle. A suitable conveyer member may be provided below the lower end of the discharge end of the walls 35 to carry away the waste shale which has been discharged into the receptacle 36. The horizontal walls 30 are mounted on a suitable supporting structure of concrete as indicated at 37- and in the same is formed a fire-box 38. A fuel pipe 39v extends throughout the length of the fire-box and supplies heating means for the horizontal retort. ()n opposite sides. of the horizontal retort and extending the length of the same and near the bottom are supply pipes 40 for steam which have connecting pipes 41 tapped into the walls 30 of the horizontal retort for the injection of steam. It will be observed that these connecting pipes 41 are inclined downwardly so as not to be clogged or choked by the shale which may be from time to time forced into them.

-By injecting the steam at the lowermost point of the horizontal retort it is thus pos sibleto secure a maximum ethciency of action of steam on the shale. The screw conveyer 31 does not fill the entire bore of the horizontal retort but is positioned below the center of the same to move material along the bottom and to leave the upper space for the passage of gases as is clearly illustrated in F 1g. 3. Outlet passages 30$ are provided at intervals along the upper surface of the walls 30, and these passages lead into a common manifold 30* which may have a single point of discharge. 1

Power for operating the screw conveyer 31 and shaft 32 is provided by a bevel gear 42 rigidly mounted on the end of-the shaft 32 adjacent the shaft 7. A corresponding bevel gear 43 is slidably mounted onv the shaft 7 by means of a collar 44 and spline member 45. A suitable lever 46 is provided for raising the gear 43 into engagement with the gear 42.

In the operation of the process and apparatus the shale containing the desired hydrocarbon matter is first mechanically ground or reduced to a size of about 6 mesh,

that is to a granulated condition, the material is then brought into the hopper 12 and elevated by the conveyer 16 into the retort until the space 2 is filled at least half the height of the agitator conveyerfi. In this filling movement the first material will tend to closethe space within the walls 1 and a small amount of the granulated shale will drop down past the end of the conveyer 6 and bank up in the inclined space formed -by the walls 29. conveyer 31 is not in operatlon, As soon as During this movement the the space 2 is filled to the desired amount the movement of the conveyor members 6 and '16 is reversed and the heat treatment within the space 2 is begun. Steam is supplied through the openings 7 and the walls 1 are subjected to the action of su erheated steam in the'annular space 3". he

packing of the material at the lower end of the casing 13 causes a material seal to be provided against the escape'of ases or air; The movement of the materla caused by the operation of the conveyer 6 is substantially that. of a central vertical 'movement' and a lateral downward movement. The shale is elevated and is allowed to fall downwardly along the heated walls 1. The cover 4 is provided with acomically shaped inner surface l which tapers toward the shaft! and which tends to throw the shale to one side toward the walls 1. By this construction a thin stream of shale comes into contact continuously with the hottest portion of the walls 1.. Any vapors and gases evolved will pass out through the discharge opening 2 in the top of the retort. The temperature within the retort will be in the neighborhood of 650 F. or higher.

Whenth e treatment in'the space 2 of the vertical retort is completed the agitator 6 is reversed and the contents of the vertical retort will be fed downwardly into the walls tent. On the other hand, the material seals provided at the lower end of the hopper 12 and at the lower end of the vertical retort is very considerable and .iscaused in part by the weight \of the material and by the tendency of the material to pack.

The above described process of extraction andapparatus may be used in the treatment of a mixture of sand and shale. The amount of each separate charge of the retort may be varied according to the material being treated and to the length of treatment necessary.

The retort and the-agitator 6 is peculiar for the reason that it provides the central elevation of the shale and the agitator does not extend across the diameter of the retort but leaves suflicient ,room for the shale to fall downwardly at the sides of the agitator. In addition to the above features the'above de-, scribed process makes it possible to inject steam into the center of a mass of shale and thereby to effect the thorough treatmentof the shale by the steam. Y

The retorts and the moving parts subject to wear will be formed of steel or other material adapted to withstand abrasion. llfhe gases or fuel used may be provided from fifhe extracted products. Among the materials obtained by the above process will be varying amounts of ammonia produced by the action of the steam on the shale which latter usually contains considerable amounts of nitrogenous material.

Changes in the size-and shape and material may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is 1. An apparatus for treating shale comprising, a main retort chamber having upright walls, means encircling said walls to heat the same evenly, an intake passage adj acent the top of said retort for the entrance of unheated shale, an exhaust port adjacent the top of said retort for the discharge of vapors and gases evolved from said shale, a tubular conveyer member communicating with said intake passage and inclined obliquely with the receiving end of said tubular conveyer member positioned below the discharge end thereof, a supply container positioned above and having its discharge opening communicating with the receiving end of said tubular conveyer, a screw conveyer within said tubular member and extending substantially .the length thereof, a vertical screw agitator member centrally positioned in the center of said main retort and the top of said retort for the discharge of vapors and gases evolved from said shale, a tubular conveyer member communicating with said intake passage and inclined obliquely with the receiving end of said tubular conveyer member positioned below the discharge end thereof, a supply container positioned above and having its discharge opening communicating with the receiving end of said tubular conveyer, a screw conveyer within said tubular member and extending substantially the length thereof, a vertical screw agitator member centrally positioned in the center of said main retort and with the edges of the screw threads spaced from the walls of the retort to provide a downward passageway for shale material elevated by said agitator member, and connective means adapted to drive said screw conveyer in the reverse direction while said agltator member is elevating the shale to prevent the feeding of additional fresh shale and to pack the fresh shale at the receiving end of said tubular conveyer.

Z 3. An apparatus for treating shale comprising a retort having upright walls, a cover for the same, a secondary wall inclosing said upright walls and providing a steam jacket around the same, a vertical screw agitator'member centrally positioned and spaced from said upright walls and adapted to elevate shale in thecenter of the retort and allow the shale to fall downwardly between said upright walls and the sides of said agitator, means for releasing steam located within the peripheral sweep of said agitator member, and means to rotate said agitator member.

' 4. An apparatus for treating shale comprising a retort having upright walls, a cover for the same, .'a secondary wall inclosing said upright walls and providing a steam jacket around the same, a vertical screw agitator member having a central shaft provided with a central bore within the same, said agitator being centrally posi- 'tioned and spaced from said upright walls and adapted to elevate shale in the center of the retort and allow the shale to fall downwardly between said upright walls and the sides of said agitator, a series of discharge passageways extending from said bore through said shaft, means for supplying steam under pressure from said discharge passageways, means to regulate the number of passageways supplied, and means to rotate said agitator member.

a. An apparatus for treating shale com prising a retort having upright walls, a cover for the same, a secondary wall inclosing said upright walls and providing a steam jacket around. the same, a vertical screw agitator member having a central shaft provided with a central bore within the same, said agitator being centrally positioned and spaced from saidupright walls and adapted to elevate shale in the center of the retort and allow the shale to fall downwardly between said upright walls and the 116 sides of said agitator, a series of discharge passageways extending from said bore through said shaft, a tubular shaft having one end extending into said bore, means to supply steam under pressure to said tubular shaft and to said bore and means to move said tubular shaft Within said bore to uncover a varying number of the ends of said discharge passageways.

5. An apparatus for treating shale comprlsmg a retort having upright walls, a cover for the same, a secondary wall inclosing said upright walls and providin a steam jacket around the same, a vertical screw agitator member centrally positioned and spaced from said upright Walls and adapted to elevate shale in the center of the retort and allow the shale to fall downwardly between said upright walls and the sides of said agitator, a conical deflector in alinement with said shaft and positioned with the conical end downwardly and immediately above the screw threads of said agitator to direct shale material laterally.

7. An apparatus for treating shale comprising a retort having vertical walls, a cover for the same, lower walls tapering toward. a centrally located restricted outlet opening, a steam jacket surrounding said Walls, a vertical screw conveyer agitator member centrally positioned and spaced from said upright walls and adapted to elevate shale in the center of the retort and allow the shale to fall downwardly between said upright Walls and the sides of said agitator, and means to rotate said agitator member, the threads of said agitator being tapered to conform to the taper of said lower walls and substantially closely fitting said restricted outlet opening.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALEXANDER M. BOYLE. 

